In my other interest space, I've been looking at the social idea behind interactions for software design. One thing that is ignored extensively in transit and transportation in general is that social involvement ideal. It's been long dead and gone for well over 50 years. Basically with the politically socialized mind set of funding and other mechanisms, something politically socialist action is notorious for creating; an ideal and operative environment that is not about the human element. The irony of that I should never need to point out.
Putting People back in Play with Transit
But on that topic, how could transit, provide that social attraction to society again? In Portland TriMet often has advertisements that reflect the ideals of advertisements of the last private transit entities. This works to a very small degree, but still they're working off of very old ideas.
With today's misleading funding principles and skewed ideas behind cars, transit, and other modes, how do we bring people back into the idea of being involved in transit? How do we get people involved back in transit and transportation?
These are some of the questions that need asked over the next decade in a huge way. They're the questions that McCain, Obama, Biden, and Palin all need to ask themselves. They are the primary first stop people who will kick off involvement in the country again. I've always said, "The most important effect a President can have on a country, is to solely motivate the people." Period, end of story. They're not going to drive the spikes on the tracks, they're not going to get the capitol investment into the right hands, they're not going to lay the concrete on the roads, and they're definitely not going to motivate anyone else to do that with poor leadership. This is something we drastically and desperately need in the United States right now.
On a local basis, what could we do now? How could we slowly and steadily start to change things so that people are again involved and concerned with their respective transportation in this country?
I'm not sure, but I'd be open to discuss. They are difficult questions, but definitely good points of discussion.